Can uprighting and discharging mechanism



Oct. 11, 1938.

OL B.v RUFUS CAN UPRIGHTING AND bISCHARGING MECHANISM` Filed June 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l jfforI/fys;

Filed June 4', 195e .3 Sheets-Sheet- 2 3, T QJWW m M, m/ Y0 Oct. 11, i, Q B RUFUS VCAN UPRIGHTING AND DISCHRGING MECHANISM Filed June4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hring/sf Puentes oei. 11,1938

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-lcs I can mmcnrunn 1nscnrllmruc. I Y' Otto B. Rufus, Chicago, IIL, assigner to Lathrop- Paulson Company, Chicago, lli., a corporation of Illinois I lo any lost motion, and without damaging the cans.

Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in

Fig. 1 is a rear end view in elevation of a canwashing machine showing my improved can-uprighting and discharging mechanism; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation, showing the can turnover and can-discharging mechanism, a portion cf the side framework being removed, and the View being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a broken plan view of the same, a

A portion of the side frame andthe bed being removed.

In the illustration given, A designates a frame; B, a can turn-over supported by frame A; and C, can-discharging mechanism.

The frame A may be of any suitable construction. In v iew of the well-known framework employed for straightway can-washing machines o! the type shown, it is believed that the frame need Y not be described in any great detail. The frame consists broadly of a number of vertical standards I0, which support angle-irons I I, upon which is carried a floor I2. Mounted-upon the floor i2, arev the supports I3, in which are journaled the can turn-over shafts I4. As-will be described more fully hereinafter, the Ashafts I4 are secured 'Ito opposite sides of the turn-over member or cradle B.

The frameA supports, on its upper side, mechanism for advancing a can cover-fand for dischargingthe can cover onto the top of the can when thecan is in the position shown in Fig. 2. Such cover-discharging mechanism isV of wellknown construction, noA claim therefor being made herein. It is suiicient to designate Vthe can cover-discharging mechanism generally by v the numeral I5. A cover tap device I6, also of Well-known construction, is also carried by the upper part of frame A and serves to press the cover securely into the neck of the can.

The can turn-over B is carried by the two shafts I4, the inner ends of which are welded to the turn-over, and the outer ends of which are journaled in the standard supports I3. The shafts I4 are provided with reduced extensions. Il, to which are secured drive-wheels I8 and I9. The mechanism for driving wheel I3 is well 5 known and need not be described herein. The drive-wheel Il is connected to a drive-wheel 20, supported in the upper portion of frame A and employed for operating the cover-discharging mechanism II and cover-seating mechanism I6. 10

The can turn-over B is formed principally from `two sheet metal parts having central web portions 2i welded together. The welded web portions 2i' are provided centrally with a slot 22. The side walls vof each member are turned for- 15 wardly to form wings 23, adapted toreceive the sides of a milk can. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, Ythe wings 23 of the two sheet metal,

-members diverge at their ends and, between the diverging sides, extend the shafts I4. The 20 shafts I4 are welded at their ends to the sides 23. Welded to the rear wall of each of the sheet metal members, is a pair of depending arms 24, providing outwardly extending lips 25, adapted to receive the ends of a can neck. The can turnover is driven by any suitable mechanism. Preferably, the mechanism is sov constructed as to stop the can turn-over? at the can-receiving position shown in Fig. 2, for a suiiicient interval of time to enable a can to slide down the inclined 30.

discharge-plate 26 onto the can-receiving lip 25. 'Ihe discharge-plate 26 is supported by the frame A and is of well-known construction, being located at the end of a conveyor, .and being inclined to permit a can, discharged from said 35 conveyor, to slide downwardly onto the pair of spaced arms 24.

It will be observed that the `two-part can turnover provides a double face for receiving cans, the arm 24, which is welded to the back of one o of the sheet metal parts, co-operatlng with the wings 23 carried by the other metal part to form one receiving face, while 'the arm 24, welded to the back of the second sheet metal member, cooperates with the wings 23 of the first sheet 45 metal part to form another can-receiving channel or face. Between vthe arms 24, is provided a space through which the can-discharging mechanism C, as will be now described, may operate.

The can-discharging'mechanism C is prefer- 50 ably so constructed as to receive the end of the can, which is being uprighted, before it has reachedthe bed I2, and then lower it and advance it, without jarring, to the level of the bed, along which it is carried to any suitable point by u a conveyor chain 21. of Well-known construction.

. Welded to the inner flanges of angle-irons II,

are anges 28, having integrally formed therewith journals 29. I'A shaft 30 is supported in jourvnals 29 and is provided centrally with a crankarm 3i. Secured to the crank-arm 3|,1ls a pivotally mounted arm 32, having its upper end secured to the platform member 33. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the platform 33 consists of two spaced arms. connected by the member 32. At the rear end, the spaced arms 33 are provided with vertically extending spaced arms 34.

The rear portion of the platform 33 is pivotally connected to linkearm 35, the link-arm in turn having its other end receiving a shaft 36, which is j'ournaled in bosses 31, formed integrally with plates 28. .Shaft 30, carrying crank-arm 3I, is

provided with a drive-wheel 33. whichis driven by well-known mechanism that need not be described. The shaft carries a pair of sprockets 33,

which drive the chains 21 in a well-known man-..

ner. In view of the well-known construction of the sprockets and drive-chain, no detailed description will be given.

Operation '.operated intermittentlyand is caused to stop,

once in each half revolution, to bring one pair of can-receiving arms 24 into alignment with the inclined plate 26, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. In this position, it receives the can, the lower end of the Acan neck being carried by lip 25, and the wings 23 receiving the sides of thecan. The driving mechanism then rotates the can turn-over B a half revolution to bring the other pair of canreceiving arms 2l into alignment with plate 26. In making this half revolution, the can, which was first picked up, is uprighted, and the bottom portion of the can slides gently onto the canreceiving' platform 33, the side walls of the can and the bottom being engaged almost simultaneously by the vertical arms 3l andhorizontal arms 33. The can-receiving position of the platform is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Further movement of 4the shaft 30 causes the platform, which is supported by link 35 and the arm 32, carried by crank 3|, to move to the can-discharging position shown in solid lines. in Fig. 2.` In this position, the can is brought into engagement with the conveyor chain 21 and is movedaway after the can cover III has been placed thereon and pressed into engagement with the can neck by the member- I6. A second can is then moved down slide 26 onto the next pair of. arms 214, and

the cycle is'repeated. l

The double-face cradle described thus efectively discharges cans without any lost motion,

twocans being uprighted in a single revolution of the cradle. 'I'he gear ratio of the can-discharging means C is such that a can is removed .before it can be struck by the succeedingcan.-

The platform, which describes an arcuate movement above the bed I2, moves into a position where it can receive the can before the can starts falling, so that there is substantially nojolting or jarring of the can when it is picked up by the platform. Also, after thev can has been deposited onto the bed I2 in a position to be engaged by' the conveyor chain 21, the movement of the crank-arm 32 causes the platform 33 to tilt downwardly out of engagement with the can bottom, and to pass rearwardly into position to receive the next can, thus leaving the first can free to receive the cover and then t0 be moved away by the conveyor chain 21.

While, in the illustration given, I have set forth certain specific constructionsas satisfactory, it will be understood that many changes may be-madein the constructions Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims shouldv be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the over to discharge said cans therefrom, said means being effective also to tilt said platform to'bring said cans into upright position.

2. In combination with a can turn-over, 'a tiltable can-supporting platform adapted to support the cans after they have been turned over to an inclined position by said turn-over, a discharge' conveyor, and means for moving said platform forwardly of said turn-over and move them onto said conveyor, sai'd means being ef-y fective also to tilt said platform to` bring said cans into upright position.

3. In combination, a frame, a can turn-over rotatably mounted in said frame, a supporting platform adapted to receive cans after they have been inverted by said turn-over, a link for mounting said platform on said frame, said link having mounted in said frame, a supporting platformadapted to receive cans after they have been inverted by said turn-over, a member pivotally connectedto said frame and to saidplatform,said

platform having arigid downward extension, a

crank mounted in said frame and pivotally connected to said extension, and means for rotating said crank to move said platform forwardly and rearwardly for discharging cans from said turnover.

5. In combination, a frame, 4a can'turn-over mounted in said frame, a link pivotally connected atone end to said frame, a can supporting platform pivotally connected to the other end of said j link, and means for moving said platform rear-v wardly into position to support a can inverted by said turn-over, said means beingy effective for controlling movement of said platform about its pivotal connection with said link and being effec'- tive also for moving said platform forwardly to discharge cans fromsaid turn-over.

6. In combination, a frame, a can turn-over mounted in said frame, a can-supporting platform movably supported in said frame, means for moving said platform rearwardly and to a raised position for receiving .the can thereon,

and means for moving said platform forwardly and downwardly to discharge said can from said turn-over and to lower said can therefrom.v

7. In combination, a frame, a. can tum-over mounted in said frame, a` conveyor for conveying cans away from said turn-over, a link member pivotally connected at its one end to said frame, a can-supporting platform pivotally connected at its rear portion to the other end of said link member, a crank rotatably mounted in said frame forwardly of said link member -andhaving its crank arm pivotally connected with the forward portion of said supporting platform, said crank being effective to move said platform rearwardly and raise its forward portion so as to bring it into position for receiving a can in inclined position, saidcrank being eiective also to move said platform forwardly and to lower its forward portion so as to discharge said can from said turnover and deliver it in upright position to said conveyor. A

8. In combination, a frame, a can tum-over rotatably mounted in said frame about a central axis, said turn-over being equipped with cradlesl l 3 on each side thereof, a can supporting platform movably carried in said frame, means for rotating said turn-over, means for delivering a can to said turn-over at intervals of approximately one-half revolution of said tum-over, means for moving said member rearwardly into a can-receiving position and forwardly to discharge a can from said turn-over at intervals of substantially one-half revolution of said turn-over.

9. In combination, a frame, a can turn-over' mounted in .said frame. a can-supporting piatform movably carried in said frame, said plationn having a horizontal portion adapted to engage the bottom of a can and having a vertical portion adapted to engage the rear side of said can, means for moving said platform rearwardly into position to support a can inverted by said turn-overt and means for moving said platform forwardly to discharge said can from said turnover. said vertical portion of the platform being effective to maintain said can in position on said platform as' the platform is moved forwardly.

ofrro B. novos. 

